Ribbon-guide for type-writers.



No. 787,566. PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

0.711. DOWLBN. RIBBON GUIDE FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1904..

UNITED STATES Patented April 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

CONNELL H. DOWLEN, OF HILLSBORO, TEXAS.

RIBBON-GUIDE FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,566, dated April 18, 1905.

Application filed June 23, 1904. Serial No- 213,809.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CoNNELL H. DoWLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hillsboro, in the county of Hill and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ribbon-Guides for Type-Writers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is amulticolor device intended to be applied to that class of type-writers known as visible writing machines, in which the ribbon is projected to the printingpoint and retracted after the stroke of the key by means of an oscillating arm or support which carries the ribbon-holder.

The invention includes the idea of making a ribbon of two colors disposed lengthwise thereof with means to adjust the relative position of the holder so that either color may be brought under the type-face, whereby writing in two or more colors may be performed.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein the device is illustrated, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the holder fixed to the oscillating arm of the Oliver machine. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is an edge or side view of the holder detached from the oscillating arm. I Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates the oscillating arm upon which the ribbon-holder is mounted. This arm is caused to move back and forth by the ordinary mechanism employed for that purpose to project the ribbon in the path of the type. The holder includes a pair of tubes 7, which are soldered or otherwise connected together, as at 8. These tubes are supported upon the top of the oscillating arm by means of small bolts9, which extend through holes 10 in lugs 11, fixed to the under side of the tubes. Slidable in said tubes are rods 12, to the far or rear end of which are attached the loops 13, through which the ribbon 14 extends and in which said ribbon is held. Said ribbon is of two colors as, for example, red and black. More colors maybe added, as desired. At the front or near end the rods 12 carry the plate 15 and the finger-piece 16, said plate having a series of perforations 17. A spring hook or latch 18 is fixed at one end to the block 8, between the tubes 7, and its other end projects in position to yieldingly engage in one of the holes 17.

In use the frame formed by the tubes 7 being fixed to the oscillating arm in the way described the ribbon may be slid backward or forward to bring any desired color under the type. This is done bylifting the latch 18 out of the hole 17 in which it may be engaged, and then by taking hold of the finger-piece 16 the holder may be moved to the position desired, the rods 12 sliding in the tubes. The distance of the. loops 13, and consequently the ribbon, from the point of attachment to the oscillating arm is thus varied, and the adjustment is fixed by letting the hook.18 spring into one of the holes 17 at the desired position. The device is simple and easily manipulated and does not interfere in any way with the operation of the machine.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a type-writing machine, a ribbon guide and holder comprising a pair of relatively fixed tubes, rods slidable therein and having ribbon-loops at one end and a finger-piece at the other end, and a spring-latch between the tubes and rods and constructed to hold the arms at adjustment.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CONNELL H. DOWLEN.

Witnesses:

O. D. BROOKS, O. N. BROOKS., 

